A low-dimensional metal frequently exhibits a metal-insulator transition through a charge-density-wave (CDW) or a spin-density-wave (SDW) which accompany it's structural changes. The transition temperature is thought to be determined by the amount of energy produced during the transition process and the softness of the original structure. $AMo_4O_6$ (A=K, Sn) are known to be quasi-one dimensional metals which exhibit metalinsulator transitions. The difference of the transition temperatures between $KMo_4O_6$ and $SnMo_4O_6$ (A=K, Sn) is examined by investigating their electronic and structural properties. Fermi surface nesting area and the lattice softness are the governing factors to determine the metal-insulator transition temperature in $AMo_4O_6$ compounds.

H-montmorillonite was modified by interlayer surface silylation using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and dodecylamine in ethanol without a pre-swelling step. Dodecylamine acts as a gallery expander and silylation catalyst. The evaporation of ethanol from the dispersion yields well-ordered silylated montmorillonites with large basal spacing between 1.50 and 4.20 nm. Solid-state $^29Si$ CP MAS NMR of the silylated samples showed $Q^2\;and\;Q^3$ signals as well as $T^2\;and\;T^3$ signals. The increase in the relative intensity of $Q^3\;for\;Q^2$ and the appearance of $T^2\;and\;T^3$ signals was attributed to the grafting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to the interlayer surface silanol groups.

Cassava peelings waste, which is both a waste and pollutant, was chemically modified using mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) and used to adsorb $Cu^{2+}\;and\;Cd^{2+}$ from aqueous solution over a wide range of reaction conditions at $30^{\circ}C$. Acid modification produced a larger surface area, which significantly enhanced the metal ion binding capacity of the biomass. An adsorption model based on the $Cu^{2+}/Cd^{2+}$ adsorption differences was developed to predict the competition of the two metal ions towards binding sites for a mixed metal ion system. The phytosorption process was examined in terms of Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. The models indicate that the cassava waste biomass had a greater phytosorption capacity, higher affinity and greater sorption intensity for $Cu^{2+}\;than\;Cd^{2+}$. According to the evaluation using Langmuir equation, the monolayer binding capacity obtained was 127.3 mg/g $Cu^{2+}$ and 119.6 mg/g $Cd^{2+}$. The kinetic studies showed that the phytosorption rates could be described better by a pseudo-second order process and the rate coefficients was determined to be $2.04{\times}10^{-3}\;min^{-1}\;and\;1.98{\times}10^{-3}\;min^{-1}\;for\;Cu^{2+}\;and\;Cd^{2+}$ respectively. The results from these studies indicated that acid treated cassava waste biomass could be an efficient sorbent for the removal of toxic and valuable metals from industrial effluents.

The reaction of $cis-[Cr([14]-decane)(OH_2)_2]^+$ ([14]-decane = rac-5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-teraazacyclotetradecane) with auxiliary ligands {$L_a$ = benzoate(bz) or chlorobenzoate(cbz)} leads to a new compound $[Cr([14]-decane)(bz)_2]ClO_4$ or $[Cr([14]-decane)(cbz)_2]ClO_4$. These complexes have been characterized by a combination of elemental analysis, conductivity, IR and Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of $[Cr([14]-decane)(cbz)_2]^+$ was determined. The complex shows a distorted octahedral coordination environment with the macrocycle adopting a folded cis-V conformation. The angle $N_{axial}-Cr-N_{axial}$ deviates by $14.5^{\circ}$ from the ideal value of $180^{\circ}$for a perfect octahedron. The bond angle cis-O-Cr-O between the Cr(III) ion and the two carboxylate oxygen atoms of the monodentate p-chlorobenzoate ligands is close to 90$^{\circ}$. The FAB mass spectra of the $cis-[Cr([14]-decane)(La)_2]ClO_4$ display peaks due to the molecular ions $[Cr([14]-decane)(bz)_2-H]^\;,\;[Cr([14]-decane)(cbz)_2-2H]^$ at m/z 578, 646, respectively.

PMMA-coated CdS nanorod was prepared by encapsulation of CdS nanorod through the polymerization process of PMMA on the surface of CdS nanorod. PMMA organic nanotube was then obtained from the elimination of the CdS nanorod by the photocorrosion. For the photocorrosion reaction of the CdS nanorod, monochromatic light was irradiated to the oxygen-saturated aqueous methyl viologen solution with PMMAcoated CdS nanorod. Photocorrosion reactions of PMMA-coated CdS nanorod were investigated and characterized by utilizing UV-Vis absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images.

Condensation of salicylaldehyde $(2-HOC_6H_4C(O)H)$ with allylamine afforded the unsaturated salicylaldimine, $2-HOC_6H_4C(H)=NCH_2CH=CH_2$. Similar reactivity was observed with substituted salicylaldehydes. Further reaction of these Schiff bases with palladium acetate or $Na_2PdCl_4$ afforded complexes of the type $PdL_2$, where L = deprotonated Schiff base. The molecular structure of the parent salicylaldimine palladium complex $[trans-(2-OC_6H_4C(H)=NCH_2CH=CH_2)_2Pd]$ (1) was characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. Crystals of 1 were monoclinic, space group $P2_1/n,\;a\;=\;14.0005(9)\;{\AA},\;b\;=7.2964(5)\;{\AA},\;c\;=\;17.5103(12)\;{\AA},\;{\beta}\;=\;100.189(1)^{\circ}$, Z = 4. Analogous chemistry with 4-vinylaniline also gave novel palladium complexes containing a pendant styryl group. Crystals of $[trans-(2-HOC_6H_4C(H)=N-4-C_6H_4CH=CH_2)_2Pd]$ (4) were monoclinic, space group $P2_1/c$, a = 13.7710(14) ${\AA}$, b = 11.0348(11) ${\AA}$, c = 7.8192(8) ${\AA}$, ${\beta}\;=\;98.817(2)^{\circ}$, Z = 2.

New series of 6-(arylthio)uracils, 6-(4-substituted-1-piperazinyl)uracils, 2,4,5-trioxo-1H,3H-benzothiopyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine and 5-aryl-2,4-dioxo-1H,3H-pyrimido[5,4-f]benzo[1,4]thiazepines have been prepared and screened for their in vitro activity against herpes simplex-1 virus (HSV-1) and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). The in vitro cytotoxic activity was also evaluated. The results of biological testing revealed that compound 5b showed marginal activity against HSV-1, while compounds 5b and 5f exhibited marginal activity against HIV-1. The rest of the tested compounds were found devoid of antiviral activity against both HSV-1 and HIV-1.

A hydrogenperoxide sensor containing peroxidase extracted from horseradish was constructed and pH effect on its sensing ability was investigated. Current profiles of the biosensor with pH and the electrophoretic analysis showed that horseradish peroxidase consists of two isozymes. Assuming that it is a hypothetical twoisozyme mixture, the current profiles were deconvoluted into two Gaussians. Application of the new Michaelis-Menten equation connoting pH concept to this system enabled to find all the related dissociation constants of the isozyme-substrates and the isozyme-proton complexes and to determine pHs for the maximal isozyme activities.

A novel class of alkoxybenzylcyanoguanidine analogs as the inhibitors of restenosis was discovered, which showed the inhibitory effects on angiotensin II-induced cell proliferation, determined by $[^3H]$thymidine incorporation method. The compound, N'-(4-nitrophenyl)guanidine analog 19, showed 62% inhibition of $[^3H]$thymidine incorporation at 1 ${\mu}M$ concentration. In addition, the compound 19 inhibited intimal thickening dose-dependently after balloon injury, which suggests the therapeutic potential for restenosis.

In the present work a very simple, sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite in micellar media is described. The method is based on the color reaction of nitrite with p-nitroaniline in the presence of diphenylamine in acid media. In order to remove the extraction step, Triton X-100, a non-ionic surfactant was used as micellar media. The optimum reaction conditions such as acid concentration, reagents concentration and effect of time have been studied and the analytical characteristics of the method such as limit of detection, linear range and molar absorptivity have been obtained. The interference of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to the determination of nitrite in real samples.

The synthesis of novel group 9 metal complexes containing the S,S'-chelate ligands, $Li_2S_2C_2B_{10}H_{10}$ (2a) and $LiS(S=PMe_2)C_2B_{10}H_{10$} (2b), is described. Two new dinuclear complexes of the type $[{(cod)M}_2(S,S'-S_2C_2B_{10}H_{10})]$ (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; M = Rh (3a), or Ir (3b)) were synthesized by the reaction of chloridebridged dimers $[M({\mu}-Cl)(cod)]_2$ with one molar equivalent of the corresponding dilithium dithiolato ligand $Li_2S_2C_2B_{10}H_{10}$ (2a). X-ray crystal structure analysis of 3a revealed a dinuclear structure in which each (cod)Rh unit is attached to a distinct sulfur atom of a 1,2-dithio-o-carboranyl ligand (2a). Additionally, the electrochemical properties of 3a and 3b were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. In an analogous manner, reaction of the lithium dithiolato ligand $LiS(S=PMe_2)C_2B_{10}H_{10}$ (2b) with $Cp^{\ast}CoI_2(CO)$ produced a mononuclear dithiolato complex, $[Cp^{\ast}CoI{(S,S'-S(S=PMe_2)C_2B_{10}H_{10})}]$ (4), which was characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

The present paper is focused on simultaneous sorption concentration of gold (III) and silver (I) from thiocyanate solutions using high-selective anion exchanger AN-25 and subsequent separation of these ions at various concentrations of thiocarbamide (eluent). As a result, silver (I) ions are completely eluted from AN-25 and gold (III) ions remain in the resin phase and can be determined directly in the solid phase by diffuse reflection spectroscopy. It is proposed to use the sorption-spectroscopic method for Au(III) determination in aqueous solutions. The calibration curve is linear in the concentration range of 1-19 mg/L (sample volume is 10.0 mL) and the detection limit is 0.05 ${\mu}g/mL$. The presence of Cu(II), Co(II), Fe(II) do not hinder this determination. Au(III) was determined in industrial solutions.

A hybrid linear polymer-dendrimer block copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(L-lysine) dendrimer, was synthesized and introduced to form polyionic complexes with DNA. The copolymer formed core-shell type nanoparticles with plasmid DNA. From dynamic light scattering experiments, the mean diameter of the polyplexes was observed to be 154.4 nm. The complex showed much increased water solubility compared to poly(L-lysine). The plasmid DNA in polyplexes was efficiently protected from the enzymatic digestion of DNase I. The cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency for 293 cells was measured in comparison with poly(Llysine).

The adsorption kinetics of ${\beta}$-casein on a hydrophobic surface has been studied by means of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The self assembled monolayer of 1-octadecanethiol on a gold coated quartz crystal was used as a hydrophobic surface for adsorption. The adsorption kinetics was monitored in different solution conditions. Formation of monolayer is observed in most cases. At high concentration of protein, micelle formation which is interrupted by high ionic strength of solution is observed. Casein binding cations such as $Ca^{2+},\;Ba^{2+}\;and\;Al^{3+}$ increase the hydrophobicity of the protein and the multiple layer adsorption occurs. The strong and weak points of the QCM method in the study of protein adsorption are discussed.

$Mn_{12}O_{12}(O_2CCH_2CH_2CH_2Cl)_{16}(H_2O)_4]$ (noted as $Mn_{12}$-BuCl), a new polynuclear complex of manganese chlorobutyrate has been successfully prepared by substitution of acetate with 4-chlorobutyric acid. The $Mn_{12}-BuCl$ crystallizes into triclinic space group P-1 with a = 14.5560(11) ${\AA}$, b = 14.5819(11) TEX>${\AA}$, c = 27.265(2) ${\AA}$, ${\alpha}\;=\;84.1140(10)^{\circ}\;,\;{\beta}\;=\;88.805(2)^{\circ},\;{\gamma}\;=\;89.8820(10)^{\circ}$, and Z = 2. The local environments of manganese 3+ and 4+ ions of the title compound are close to those of other $Mn_{12}$ compounds. The electrochemical data for $Mn_{12}-BuCl$ involve reversible reactions of two-electron reductions. The $Mn_{12}-BuCl$ also presents magnetic relaxation below 10 K implying that each molecule behaves as a single molecule magnet.

Kinetic studies of the pyridinolysis $(XC_5H_4N)$ of aryl dithiomethylacetates $(CH_3CH_2C(=S)SC_6H_4Z,\;1)$ are carried out in acetonitrile at $60.0^{\circ}C$. A biphasic Bronsted plot is obtained with a change in slope from a large $({\beta}X\;{\cong}\;0.8)$ to a small $({\beta}X\;{\cong}\;0.2)$ value at $pK_a^{\circ}$ = 5.2, which is attributed to a change in the rate limiting step from breakdown to formation of a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate, $T^{\pm}$, in reaction path as the basicity of the pyridine nucleophile increases. This mechanism is supported by the change of the cross-interaction constant ${\rho}xz$ from a large positive ( ${\rho}xz$ = +1.36) for the weakly basic pyridines to a small negative ( ${\rho}_xz$ = -0.22) value for the strongly basic pyridines. The magnitudes of ${\rho}z$ and activation parameters are also consistent with the proposed mechanism.

Six physical properties (enthalpy, density, decomposition temperature, solubility in water, pKa values, and hydronium potential) were examined by molecular modeling techniques. The molecular connectivity index, Wiener distance index, and Ad hoc descriptor are employed as structural parameters to encode information about branching, size, cyclization, unsaturation, heteroatom content, and polarizability. This paper examines the correlation of the molecular modeling techniques parameters and the physicochemical properties of amino acids. As a results, calculated values were in agreement with experimental data in the above six physical properties of amino acids and the molecular connectivity index was superior to the other indices in fitting the calculated data.

The structural transformation behavior of $Na_2Ti_3O_7$ by hydrolysis was investigated in mild and strong acidic aqueous medium. Compared with $K_2Ti_4O_9,\;Na_2Ti_3O_7$ exhibits quite different structural and morphological transformation behavior despite their similar layered structural characteristics. $TiO_2(B)$ obtained by heat treatment of $H_2Ti_3O_7\;at\;350^{\circ}C$ transforms to rutile $H_2Ti_3O_7\;at\;900^{\circ}C$. This temperature is much lower than $1200{\circ}C$, the temperature for anatase to rutile transition when $K_2Ti_4O_9$ is used as a starting titanate. A rectangular rod shape and size of $TiO_2(B)$ particles obtained from $Na_2Ti_3O_7$ is also different from a fibrous structure of $TiO_2(B)$ prepared using $K_2Ti_4O_9$. Rutile crystals of 100 nm diameter with a corn-like morphology and large surface area are directly obtained when the hydrolysis of $Na_2Ti_3O_7$ is carried out at $100^{\circ}C$ in a strong acid solution. The structure of starting titanates and the hydrolysis conditions are an important factor to decide the particle size and morphology of $TiO_2(B)\;and\;TiO_2$.

A new inhibitor for peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) has been isolated from Ganoderma lucidum and purified to homogeneous state by organic solvent extraction. The purified PPIase inhibitor (GPI) is assumed to be a membrane-associated glycoprotein. GPI inhibits specifically the bovine brain PPIase, a cyclophilin, and has no effect on the FKBP activity. The results of our chemical modification study of GPI indicate the presence of Lys residue(s) at or near its binding site. Like CsA-cyclophilin complex, GPI-bovine brain PPIase complex strongly inhibits the calcineurin activity in vitro, suggesting the possible involvement of GPI in immunomodulating pathway by the formation of PPIase-inhibitor-calcineurin complex.

Molecular visualization software has the common objective of manipulation and interpretation of data from numerical simulations. They visualize many complicated molecular structures with personal computer and workstation, to help analyze a large quantity of data produced by various computational methods. However, users are often discouraged from using these tools for visualization and analysis due to the difficult and complicated user interface. In this regard, we have developed an easy-to-use three-dimensional molecular visualization and analysis program named POSMOL. This has been developed on the Microsoft Windows platform for the easy and convenient user environment, as a compact program which reads outputs from various computational chemistry software without editing or changing data. The program animates vibration modes which are needed for locating minima and transition states in computational chemistry, draws two and three dimensional (2D and 3D) views of molecular orbitals (including their atomic orbital components and these partial sums) together with molecular systems, measures various geometrical parameters, and edits molecules and molecular structures.